Deflocculating solid materials and agents therefor



UNITED STATES PATENT) omen EDWARD GQODRICH ACHESON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEI LOGCULATING SOLID MATERIALS AND AGENTS THEREFOR.-

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EDWARD GooDRIoH ACHESON, a citizen of the United States, 're-- siding at New York, in the county of New Specification of Letters Patent.

As disclosed in the said or other cereal grain, is first roasted at a temperature approximating but below that at which carbonization occurs. The roasted product is then preferably finely ground or pulverized, and is then treated with an ammoniacal solution, the addition of ammonia being continued, referably with .constant stirring,,until sucli time as a distinct ammoniacal odor develops and persists in the product, which in the meantime assumes a pasty-consistence. This pasty mass is then extracted with water, and the resulting solution, freed from the insoluble residue, constitutes the deflocculating agent described in the said patent.

The present invention relates to an improvement upon the above described process roduct, said improvement consisting in a ding to the ammonia, preferably before treating therew'ith'the heat-conversion products of the starchy material, a suitable proportion of formaldehyde.

As is well known formaldehyde reacts strongly with ammonia, yielding a crystallizable basic compound known as hexamethylenetetramin, the reaction taking place in accordance with the following equation:

By adding formaldehyde in the equivalent proportion represented by the above equation the'whole of the ammonia may of course be transformed into hexamethylenetetramin, the transformation being accomstarchy materials.

Patented June 29, 1920.

Application filed January 22, 1920. Serial No. 353.342.

' panied by the disappearance of the ammoniacal odor. In practice, however, it is not necessary to effect such complete conversion, and I prefer to add formaldehyde in substantially less proportion than is indicated by the above equation. Without limiting my invention to any particular proportion, I have found that a very satisfactory solution for deflocculating purposes can be prepared by commingling 10 parts by volume of 26% ammonia solution with 8 parts by volume of 27% formaldehyde solution.

This operation may be carried out under a V return condenser in order to avoidloss of reagents.

The resulting clear solution is caused to react with the heat-conversion products of starchy materials to form the deflocculating solution, the several operations, including the deflocculating operation, being carried out' substantially in the manner described in my prior patent above mentioned.

Obviously the solution may be prepared in other ways, as for example by dissolving pro-formed hexamethylenetetramin in water, orpreferably in an'ammoniacal solution, the proportions chosen being referably such as to yield a solution havlng the characteristics mentioned above.

I claim L'As a new composition of matter, the product of reaction of hexamethylenetetramin upon the heat-conversion products of 2. As a new composition of matter, the product of'reaction of hexamethylenetetramin in ammoniacal solution upon the heatconversion products of starchy materials.

3. The process of preparing a composition of matter, comprising roasting starchy materials at a temperature approximating but below the point of carbonization, and extracting the soluble constituents from the 'resulting product by an aqueous solution 5. Method of defioccul'ating amorphous bodies, comprising treating the same with the product of reaction of hexamethyle'ne-. tetraminupon the heat-conversion products the product ofreaction of hexamethylene' tetramin in ammoniacal solution upon the heat-conversion rials.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.-

EDWARD c. ACHESON.

products of starchy. mate- 10' 

